Policy makers can be a bridge between people who are passionate about ideas and a place where those ideas can be implemented, says Ticora Jones, whose work links up universities and local communities looking to technology to address development challenges.

You have chosen to put women’s challenges and opportunities in their rightful place – at the forefront of our missions – at a time when it is imperative to include everyone in the next chapter of global sustainable development, and for that I thank you.

The U.S. Mission in Geneva and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) join the international community in commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began on Friday, November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and ends on December 10 (International Human Rights Day). This year’s theme is “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All.”

“Geneva – the operational hub of multilateral diplomacy – provides the foundation for our work, which is built on the need to bridge cultures, to develop a network of both traditional and non-traditional partners, as we address the world’s most significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. And that’s what I want to talk about today – how the United States is working in concert with the international community in Geneva – through multi-stakeholder partnerships – to enhance resiliency and foster sustainable development around the world.”

“I want to emphasize how deeply the United States values and respects our friendship with Kenya. Today, our annual 2A trade exceeds 1.5 billion and U.S. investors are increasingly attracted to the possibilities here, especially in such sectors as energy, agri-business, and ICT. Our governments work together on a range of issues, including climate change, where I might add Kenya is a regional leader, both through its engagement in the international climate negotiations and through its own ambitious domestic efforts.”

Breastfeeding is one of the most cost effective ways to save the lives of children and improve their future ability to grow, learn, and thrive as members of their community. According to a recentLancet series, the deaths of 823,000 children and 20,000 mothers each year could be averted through scaling up optimal breastfeeding practices to nearly universal levels, along with economic savings of US$ 300 billion.

Over the past eight years, President Obama has elevated sustainable development to a core pillar of American foreign policy. On Wednesday July 20th, the President will host the White House Summit on Global Development, bringing together development leaders, public and private sector financing partners, civil society, diplomats, and entrepreneurs to mark our global progress and catalyze further development efforts.